‘Wine is endlessly fascinating and brings people together,’ says Barbara Drew at wine merchants Berry Bros & Rudd wine. ‘Every cellar is unique to the person who built it.’

Barbara is seeing an increasing interest in collectors, from those just starting to learn about wine to enthusiasts (oenophiles for those that didn’t know) enjoying it for many decades and wanting to start building a cellar.

‘Bordeaux and Burgundy are popular and form the foundation of many cellars. However, Italy, in particular Super Tuscans and wines from Barolo are seeing increased demand,’ she says.’ Vintage champagne is also a consistently high performer. ‘Buying wines from reputable producers is often more important than focusing on a specific region and provenance is also key - ensuring your wine is what it says it is and has been stored correctly.’

Growing in popularity from the 1980s, wine has become a popular culture and less the domain of the affluent. ‘Collecting and investing used to only be available to a certain demographic,’ says Dia Grigoriou from Vintage Wine and Port. ‘I think that nowadays, more people are getting involved. Educational platforms have created more in-depth knowledge, and this coupled with the wide availability of wine information via social media and the internet has accentuated the interest in wine.’

Temperature is perhaps the most important thing when storing wine. In general, the ideal temperature for storage is around 13ºC. ‘Exposure to light as well as vibrations must be avoided, UV rays from direct sunlight can damage the wine’s flavour and aroma profile,’ advises Dia. Humidity is also important, so make sure to keep wine cellar levels between 60 and 68 per cent. Wines with a cork should be laid on their side.’

But to retain its tradable value, fine wine needs to be kept in optimum condition. If you don't have the ideal facilities to store wine at home, consider storing it with a reputable wine merchant or wine storage company.

For those deciding to decanter, enjoying a glass of vintage wine is a unique experience. ‘A fine vintage bordeaux can offer a wonderful experience, especially paired with food and or cheese,’ says Dia. ‘Madeira wines from the 1800s are sensational just on their own, they are very complex wines. There is this sense of enjoyment derived from the fact that not so many bottles are widely circulating after a while, and it is a rare pleasure to be able to enjoy such wines. It is important to note that vintage wines are an acquired taste; I personally love them and appreciate them. I always try a vintage wine with an open mind and a reflection about the vintage they were created from and the history that they have experienced while going through the ageing process.’

When building a cellar for investment it also helps to store your wine In Bond – this means that tax and duty have not been paid on the wine, and it can more easily be sold.

The advantage to wine investment is that if your investment does not perform as well as expected financially, it can always be opened and enjoyed.